
Conditions that require a manual engine start
The engine must be started manually under the following conditions:
•If the driver door is opened.
•If the bonnet is opened.
Activating and deactivating the start/stop system manually
•Press the button  in the centre console ⇒ Fig. 121 to deactivate the system. If the 
start/stop system has been deactivated, the indicator lamp in the button lights up.
•Press the button  in the centre console again ⇒ Fig. 121 to reactivate the system.
The instrument cluster shows the status of the start/stop system every time the  button is 
pressed.
If the start/stop system has switched the engine off, it will start again as soon as the system has 
been deactivated manually with the  button.
Always deactivate the start/stop system manually when driving through water.
Start/stop mode when Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf  L V  D F W L Y e
The engine will be switched off after the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf  K D V  E U R X J K W  W K H  Y H K L F O H  W R  D  
standstill via an active braking intervention ⇒ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf.
m/k/a995MKVehicles with DSG dual clutch gearbox: when the Adaptive Cruise Control 
(ACCyf  L V  D F W L Y H   W K H  ' 6 G dual clutch gearbox can shift into coasting mode and the engine can be 
switched off with the engine-off coasting function.
In the following instances, the engine will restart when the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf  L V  D F W L Y H :
•If the accelerator is depressed.
•When the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf  K D V  U H V X P H G  V S H H G  D Q G  D X W R P D W L F  G L V W D Q F H  F R Q W U R O .
•If the vehicle ahead has moved on.
•If the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf  L V  G H D F W L Y D W H G  D Q G  W K H  Y H K L F O H  G U L Y L Q J  L Q  I U R Q W  P R Y H G  D Z D \ .
Troubleshooting
The engine stop function may be deactivated if the temperature is above around 38°C (100°Fyf .
In some cases, it may be necessary to restart the engine manually. Follow any 
corresponding messages on the instrument cluster display.
The start/stop function is activated automatically if the Eco driving profile is selected on 
vehicles with driving profile selection ⇒ Driving profile selection and 4MOTION Active Control.
Always deactivate the start/stop system manually when driving through water.
Manual gearbox: selecting a gear
®
Never switch off the engine or the ignition while the vehicle is in motion. This can lead to a 
loss of vehicle control, accidents and serious injuries.
•The airbags and belt tensioners will not work if the ignition is switched off.
•The brake servo will not work when the engine is switched off. That is why more 
pressure on the brake pedal is needed to brake the vehicle when the engine is 
switched off.
•The power steering will not work when the engine is not running. More power is 
needed to steer the vehicle when the engine is switched off.
•When the ignition is switched off, the steering lock may activate and you will no longer 
be able to steer the vehicle.
•The start/stop system must be deactivated if work is to be carried out in the engine 
compartment.
WARNING
If the start/stop system is used in very high outside temperatures over a long period, the 
12-volt vehicle battery can be damaged.
NOTICE 

If the accelerator pedal is depressed fully, the gearbox will automatically shift to a lower gear, 
depending on the speed and engine revs. This will make use of the full vehicle acceleration.
The gearbox does not shift up to the next gear until the engine reaches the maximum engine speed 
for the gear.
When the Eco driving profile is selected in vehicles with driving profile selection ⇒ Driving profile 
selection and 4MOTION Active Control and the accelerator is depressed fully beyond the pressure 
point, the engine output is automatically regulated to ensure maximum vehicle acceleration.
Launch Control Programme
The Launch Control programme gives the vehicle maximum acceleration from a standing start in 
vehicles with a DSG  dual clutch gearbox.
•Switch off TCS ⇒ Brake support systems.
•Depress and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
•In selector lever position D/S, select position S. Alternatively, select the Tiptronic position or in 
vehicles with driving profile selection select the Sport driving profile ⇒ Driving profile selection 
and 4MOTION Active Control.
•With your right foot, depress the accelerator until the engines speed reaches approximately 
3,200 rpm.
•Take your left foot off the brake ⇒. The vehicle will start with maximum acceleration.
•Switch the TCS back on after acceleration.
Troubleshooting
®
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction and skidding, particularly on slippery roads. 
This can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, which can lead to accidents and serious 
injuries.
•Always adjust your driving style in accordance with the flow of traffic.
•Only use kickdown or fast acceleration if visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions 
permit, and other road users are not put at risk due to the acceleration and the driving 
style.
•Please note that the driven wheels could start to spin and the vehicle could skid if the 
traction control system (TCSyf  L V  V Z L W F K H G  R I I   H V S H F L D O O \  L I  W K H  U R D G  L V  V O L S S H U \ .
•Switch the traction control system (TCSyf  E D F N  R Q  D I W H U  D F F H O H U D W L R Q .
•Only use the launch control programme, if the road and traffic conditions allow for it.
•You should never endanger other road users through the acceleration of your vehicle 
or through your driving style.
WARNING
Never ride the brake pedal. Do not overuse the brake pedal. Constant braking will cause 
the brakes to overheat. This can considerably reduce the brake effect, increase the 
braking distance and, in certain circumstances, cause the brake system to fail completely.
WARNING
•If you stop the vehicle on an incline, do not attempt to stop it from rolling back by 
depressing the accelerator while a position is still selected. The dual clutch gearbox 
DSG could overheat and be damaged.
•Never allow the vehicle to roll in position N, particularly if the ignition is switched off. 
The DSG dual clutch gearbox will not be lubricated and could be damaged.
•m/k/a995MK Vehicles with Launch Control Programme: accelerating with the 
Launch Control programme places heavy strain on all vehicle components. This can 
lead to higher rates of wear.
NOTICE
®
®
•Never let the brakes rub by applying light pressure to the brake when it is not 
necessary to brake. This will increase levels of wear.
•Before driving down a long, steep gradient, reduce your speed and select a suitable 
recuperation level. This will make use of the electric drive braking effect and relieve the 
load on the brakes. The brakes could otherwise overheat and possibly fail. The brakes 
should only be used to slow or stop the vehicle.
NOTICE 

Fig. 126 Removing the cover of the gearshift gate.
Fig. 127 Unlocking the selector lever lock manually.
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
The indicator lamps light up.
Brake pedal not depressed. Fully depress the brake pedal. Also see Adaptive Cruise Control 
(ACCyf  ⇒ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACCyf.Do not drive on! Gearbox fault. Allow the gearbox 
to cool down in selector lever position P. If the warning lamp does not go out, do not drive on. Seek 
professional assistance. Failure to do so could result in considerable damage to the gearbox.
Brake pedal not depressed, e.g. when trying to engage another position with the selector lever. To 
select a position, press the brake pedal. See also electronic parking brake ⇒ Electronic parking 
brake.
The indicator lamps flash.
The lock button in the selector lever is not engaged. The vehicle cannot drive off. Engage the 
selector lever lock ⇒ Selector lever lock.
Troubleshooting for the selector lever lock
In rare cases, the selector lever lock may not engage in vehicles with a DSG dual clutch 
gearbox. The drive is then deactivated to prevent the vehicle from accidentally pulling away. The 
indicator lamp flashes and an information message is also displayed. Use the following procedure 
to engage the selector lever lock:
•Depress the foot brake and then release it again.
Unlocking the selector lever lock manually
If the power fails in the vehicle (e.g. if the 12-volt battery is flatyf  D Q G  W K H  Y H K L F O H  K D V  W R  E H  S X V K H G  R U  
towed, the selector lever lock must be released manually. Seek professional assistance.
The manual release mechanism is located under the cover of the gearshift gate.
Removing the cover of the gearshift gate
•Switch on the electronic parking brake. If the electronic parking brake cannot be switched on, 
the vehicle will have to be prevented from rolling off using other means.
•Switch off the ignition.
•Carefully pull the cover upwards in the area around the selector lever gaiter with connected 
electrical wiring ⇒ Fig. 126.
•Pull the cover up and over the selector lever ⇒.
Releasing the selector lever lock manually
Depending on the vehicle equipment, there are two possible manual release mechanism variants.
•Using the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit, carefully push the release lever 
in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position ⇒ Fig. 126.
•Press the lock button on the front of the selector lever handle and move the selector lever to 
position N.
•After manual release, carefully press the cover onto the centre console while ensuring that the 
electrical wires are positioned correctly.
•Using the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit, carefully push the release lever 
in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position ⇒ Fig. 127.
•Press the lock button on the front of the selector lever handle and move the selector lever to 
position N.
® 

•After manual release, carefully press the cover onto the centre console while ensuring that the 
electrical wires are positioned correctly.
Emergency programme
There is a fault in the system if all the displays on the instrument cluster for the selector lever 
positions have a light background. The DSG dual clutch gearbox is running in an emergency 
programme. The vehicle can still be driven in the emergency programme, but only at reduced 
speed and not in all gears.
In vehicles with a DSG dual clutch gearbox, you may no longer be able to select reverse gear.
In all cases you should have the DSG dual clutch gearbox checked by a qualified workshop 
immediately.
Overheating of the DSG dual clutch gearbox
The DSG dual clutch gearbox can become too hot, for example, if the vehicle pulls off 
frequently, drives at crawling speed for long periods, or in stop-and-go traffic. Overheating is 
indicated by the warning lamp and in some cases by a text message in the instrument cluster 
display. A signal tone may also be given. Stop the vehicle and allow the gearbox to cool down ⇒
.
The vehicle does not move forwards or backwards even though a position 
has been selected
If the vehicle will not move in the required direction, the system may have selected the position 
incorrectly. Depress the brake pedal and reselect the position.
If the vehicle still does not move in the required direction, there is a system fault. Seek expert 
assistance and have the system checked.
Downhill speed control
If the vehicle is being held on the Auto Hold function, the green indicator lamp  lights up. 
Switch off Auto Hold if necessary ⇒ Auto Hold function.
The Hill Descent Control system in vehicles with a DSG dual clutch gearbox helps when braking 
and travelling downhill ⇒. This system uses the braking power of the engine, rather than the 
brakes directly.
The DSG dual clutch gearbox selects the best gear for the circumstances, depending on the 
steepness of the hill and the current speed. The selector lever must be in position D/S. The downhill 
speed control is not active in Tiptronic mode.
As the downhill speed control system can shift down only as far as third gear, it may be necessary 
to activate the Tiptronic mode when driving down particularly steep inclines. When in Tiptronic 
mode, select second or first gear manually in order to make use of the braking effect of the engine 
and to relieve the load on the brakes.
The start/stop system is automatically deactivated as long as downhill speed control is active.
Activating downhill speed control automatically:
•If the downhill gradient is greater than approximately 6yb .
•AND: if the selector lever is in position D/S.
®
®
®
®
®
Never move the selector lever out of the position P if the electronic parking brake is not 
switched on. Otherwise the vehicle could move unexpectedly if it is stopped on an incline, 
which could lead to accidents and serious injuries.
WARNING
The DSG dual clutch gearbox will become damaged if the vehicle is allowed to roll for a 
long period of time or at a high speed (for example while being towedyf  Z L W K  W K H  V H O H F W R U  
lever in position N and the engine switched off.
NOTICE
®
•If the display indicates that the gearbox is overheating for the first time, the vehicle will 
have to be parked safely or driven faster than 20 km/h (12 mphyf .
•If the text message and signal tone are repeated every ten seconds, the vehicle must be 
parked safely immediately and the engine switched off. Allow the gearbox to cool down.
•In order to prevent damage to the gearbox, you should not drive on until the acoustic 
warning stops. You should not pull away or drive the vehicle at very low speeds while 
the gearbox is overheated.
NOTICE
®
®